Midnight Memories
by One Direction
User Score
6.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 410 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 248 out of 410
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 410
  3. Negative: 123 out of 410
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  1. bobbyman46
    Dec 13, 2013
    10
    In my opinion, this is without a doubt the best album they have ever made. Their sound has matured so much and they no longer sound like the stereotypical boy band. Immensely proud of them
  2. black123rose
    Dec 1, 2013
    10
    I just like the album. I think it has is an interesting mix and I can't wait to hear more of the boys. Love them or hate them... The album is much better than expected.
  3. alexwalker01
    Nov 25, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Its one of the best albums of the year its a little bit different of the other two. but with this album 1D again show us why they start to be so important in music industry… Expand
  4. miguelsanhueza
    Nov 28, 2013
    10
    Es el mejor album que he escuchado de One Direction, es muy entretenido, muy bailable tambien, es uno de los mejores del año, sin duda se esforzaron mucho esta vez, tiene grandes canciones con maravillosas letras
  5. isabellacarmona
    Nov 27, 2013
    10
    “Midnight Memories” is one of the best boyband albuns.. there was a vocal evolution!! this is the best album of one direction and the most mature album
  6. Qanzeb
    Nov 28, 2013
    10
    This shows how these boys matured within three short years. Their voices have grown deeper and so have their songs. No longer are they singing sweet little pop songs, to the exception of "Best Song Ever", of course. Some lines are a bit random, but otherwise the songs are nice. I have to be honest, I am a super fan. It doesn't matter because I'd love it anyways. The music is in a wideThis shows how these boys matured within three short years. Their voices have grown deeper and so have their songs. No longer are they singing sweet little pop songs, to the exception of "Best Song Ever", of course. Some lines are a bit random, but otherwise the songs are nice. I have to be honest, I am a super fan. It doesn't matter because I'd love it anyways. The music is in a wide range too, which is interesting. Another thing is to keep in mind the target audience, since most negative reviewers are males(FACT.). I'm sure others may not enjoy it because it's by these boys, but just give it a try. I'm also proud of the boys having more parts within these songs, Louis has credits for nine songs! I also like that Louis and Niall have more sing more in this album since they all have very unique voices. They really do have talent, and they deserve some credit. Anyways, these boys have done a good job, all and all. I hope the fourth album will come out soon, haha.… Expand
  7. bs837
    Dec 1, 2013
    10
    After two albums of One Direction trying to find their sound, Midnight Memories proves that this is the sound they have been looking for. This album is very guitar driven and makes for a great start to end listen. I look forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.
  8. Iamhuman
    Dec 3, 2013
    10
    Personally, i love this album and there are no weak track. It is better than i expected and their vocals sound so good on this record, plus the playfulness of the sound confidently executed. Moreover, most of the songs are unquestionably lyrically superior than their previous albums. It is also good to know that they have co written most of the songs. Great great album. Therefore,Personally, i love this album and there are no weak track. It is better than i expected and their vocals sound so good on this record, plus the playfulness of the sound confidently executed. Moreover, most of the songs are unquestionably lyrically superior than their previous albums. It is also good to know that they have co written most of the songs. Great great album. Therefore, definitely worth buying.… Expand
  9. Ziall
    Dec 3, 2013
    10
    This album shows how the boys sound has matured, some songs are upbeat and catchy and some are more mature. They don't seem afraid to sing about love. This album is really good and the best one yet. I'm sure this isn't the last we hear from One Direction.
  10. lalalalalalala
    Dec 3, 2013
    10
    this album is just amazing i can't even describe how much i love it, it's just awesome. I'm so proud of these boys, our boys, they have never let me down and i know they never will.
  11. lizettetherese
    Dec 3, 2013
    10
    I really really like their new album, I think the songs are more mature and rocky.
    It's such a good album and I don't understand any of you who gave it negative votes.
    They have really grown and I'm so proud of them. Gotta love 'em!
  12. gmsxrays
    Dec 4, 2013
    10
    Their best album yet..they have matured and so has their music. "Little Black Dress" was recorded 70's style...band, group all in one room in one take.,, very impressive.
  13. stefanipetrova
    Dec 4, 2013
    10
    That album is just amazing!!!! I can't believe how great songs there are! Incredible. i think they are really grown up and their music too! You have to hear it you won't regret it
  14. 13xxx
    Jan 22, 2014
    10
    I really like this album and out of all three of their albums this is by far the best one. I think it's the best one partly because in some of the songs they ditched their pop sound but in some they kept it. The other reason that it's their best album is because of the slow songs on it. On their other albums I actually couldn't stand the slow songs but on this one I listen to them onI really like this album and out of all three of their albums this is by far the best one. I think it's the best one partly because in some of the songs they ditched their pop sound but in some they kept it. The other reason that it's their best album is because of the slow songs on it. On their other albums I actually couldn't stand the slow songs but on this one I listen to them on repeat. Now I am going to review each one of the songs.
    Best Song Ever was the song of the summer for me, and it never gets old. It's such an upbeat party song that I always put on with my friends and we dance because ugh it's amazing ok.
    Story of My Life came out shortly before the album and when I heard it I was instantly obsessed. It doesn't sound like anything they've ever done which makes it such a strong song by them and again, it will honestly never get old.
    Diana was not my favorite song off the album, but it does make me smile and it's message is clear. It's definitely a catchy song. Fun to sing aloud to.
    Midnight Memories actually made me so happy because when coming up with this song One Direction had a huge influence from rock music and that's what makes this sound so good.
    You and I is my favorite song off the album; it's so emotional and raw and sounds so good. I can't stop listening to it and whenever it comes on it makes me smile.
    Don't Forget Where You Belong is touching and at first I thought it was cheesy but then I really listened to the lyrics. It is really a very heartfelt song that makes you appreciate "where you belong" more. It's a good song for graduation or something.
    Strong is ugh my other favorite off the album and it's so perfect I can't even. There isn't really a way to talk about this song while giving it the credit it deserves because it is such an amazing song.
    Happily has a kind of Mumford and Sons feel to it and it is definitely a special song. It's really happy and bubbly, and the lyrics say so much.
    Right Now is not one of the standout songs but it is very, very good. Not much to say about it but its vibe is so positive and it makes me, I don't know about you, feel so happy.
    Little Black Dress is my least favorite off the album, I feel like when all the guys sing together for the whole song it just doesn't work. I still like it because the tune is catchy but it can get kind of old when I've played it so many times, unlike the other songs on the album.
    Through the Dark is another Mumford and Sons influenced song and like Happily it conveys a message that people are there for you in your darkest times of need. It is a feel good song and whenever you are down and need some support I would listen to this song.
    Something Great is also not much of a standout but I really do love this song. One Direction sings this song slowly which makes it all the more powerful.
    Little White Lies makes me plain happy. When I'm with my friends, one of us just has to say, "if this room was burning" and we all belt this song out. It's very pop but that is what 1D is so it's easy to love.
    Better than Words is an amazing song and actually all the lyrics to it are names of songs. It describes how love is better than words can describe and it is fun to listen to.
    Alive is a bonus track, and it is very rock influenced. The message it tries to convey is a bit confusing but it's so catchy and makes you want to get up and dance which is a plus.
    Half a Heart is another bonus track if you buy the deluxe version or whatever, and it's a really moving song about how when this girl is away they feel like a part of them is missing. I absolutely love this song because it's slow, and as I mentioned earlier the slow songs in this album are the best and can never get old.
    Overall, this album is such a fun one to listen to and makes you feel so happy because, as One Direction does so well, it makes every teenage girl feel like they are being sung to personally.    … Expand
  15. Tommaso
    Jun 20, 2014
    10
    This album is amazing!! One Direction maked a big big big change in their style and in the music. This is my favourite! I'm not surprised that it was the most sold in the UK in 2013...
  16. ceceredx
    Aug 14, 2014
    10
    This album is different than the other two, but it's better. It's more pop rock. I really love this album. This album has a little bit of folk too. Some dance songs, some romantic songs, is amazing how they can do different songs.
  17. Maribelle
    Oct 12, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I actually really loved the album more than their previous. Their singles (with the exception of Best Song Ever) were very well written, catchy and sweet. Tracks that were absolutely catchy and great to me were Happily, Strong and I also loved Don't Forget where you Belong. You get an indie-alt vibe to some of their tunes and others you can hear the oldies rock influence and since I'm a fan of those I really enjoyed this album. Not to mention they have great voices especially, Zayn, Harry and Liam. One of the best pop acts to me.… Expand
  18. Samimacedo
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. HINARIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO melhor album da carreira, patrão do Four memso, merecia verde tour, injustiçado do pop… Expand
  19. AbigailSiagian
    Jan 29, 2015
    10
    it's so much better than the pervious album it's very catchy and one of their best album i love the combination between pop and rock and i love alive it's so catchy
  20. cammillyoliver
    Sep 19, 2015
    10
    ESSES CRÍTICOS TEM DEMENCIA ESSE ALBUM É MARAVILHOSO, MELHOR DA CARREIRA, PISA MAIS ONED PISA MAIS, PQP É UM HINARIO TEEN CARALHO, OS VOCAIS TAO PISANDO DEMAIS, AS HIGH NOTE SENHOR JESUS, AMEI MUITO, MAS ODIEI O AMARELO TOUR, EXIJO RECONTAGEM E QUERO +70 PRA AGORA
  21. matheusbrigida
    Apr 24, 2015
    10
    My favorite album, I do not why this note, this album is the best. WHY 5.0? They merit 10,because this album is the best. if you don't like, won't come to write here
  22. writenow
    Aug 1, 2015
    10
    Best Song Ever: The song is fun, the vocals are sharp (Zayn's 7 second high note) but it possesses none of the individuality found later in the album. There's a sense of nostalgia, one day "I hope you'll remember how we danced..." is going to mean a lot.

    Story Of My Life: Everyone sounds fantastic, all five contributed to the writing. All the boys sell the downbeat lyrics. Liam    Best Song Ever: The song is fun, the vocals are sharp (Zayn's 7 second high note) but it possesses none of the individuality found later in the album. There's a sense of nostalgia, one day "I hope you'll remember how we danced..." is going to mean a lot.

    Story Of My Life: Everyone sounds fantastic, all five contributed to the writing. All the boys sell the downbeat lyrics. Liam sounds particularly convincing midway through, Louis sounds equal parts forlorn and wistful. The closing notes show how talented they all are.

    Diana - An odd 80s throwback. Sounds a bit too like Take On Me and since the band has revealed the song is about someone specific, but won't say who, the relatable factor is missing.

    Midnight Memories - you can listen to the band recording this if you search youtube, they definitely didn't mean to rip off Def Leppard. Oops. The song is Best Song Ever II, fun, safe, goofy. Zayn hits another golden high note and Niall shows surprising strength. Check out the X Factor USA performance.

    You and I - the quintessential 1D ballad and Zayn high note. Sounds like Avril's I'm With You in that it allows silence to also play an important role in creating tension and mood. As with their Four album track Ready to Run, it's easy to view this as a possible queer anthem. "We don't wanna be like them/They see things in a different light like us/They never tried like us" Not saying it is, not saying it isn't.

    Don't Forget - another song that probably relates more to 1Ds own personal journey but this one is better than Diana, more universal. A standout track when performed live, probably because it's about being on tour, millions of miles from home.

    Strong - a universal fan favourite for many reasons. Louis and Liam wrote it but another songwriter specified that Louis's specific intention was to go against the standard of men not being openly honest about emotion. "I'm sorry if I say I need you/But I don't care/I'm not scared of love/There's nothing I'm running from/You make me strong". A beautiful love song Louis and Liam should be proud of for presenting to a legion of female fans who are constantly criticized for loving them and for a world that never lets men just be who they are.

    Happily - the song sounds like happiness should but listen closely. "We were meant to be but a twist of fate/Made it so we had to walk away". The narrator is asking his love to reconsider after leaving for someone else. If they get together, then they will simply "be, so happily". Folksy high energy track, sounds like I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons.

    Right Now - another "life on the road" song. Written with Ryan Tedder, he does well to construct that airy rock One Republic feel within the 1D sound. Louis sounds wonderfully unusual at the beginning and Liam hits beautiful high notes. Sometimes it's hard to critique their songs when everyone is so on point!

    Little Black Dress - You can't tell me Mick Jagger hasn't secretly strutted around his dressing room to this one. Pure rock, not a hint of pop here. A deliberately repetitive jam session about a hot gal. The highlight is the band having a blast in the background with screams, orgasmic groans and general ad-libs. So much fun.

    Through The Dark - a carefully written song about helping someone through depressive symptoms. It's about pulling someone through their own darkness, not by being their hero but by being there as they ride it out themselves. Perfectly shows how 1D manages to sound honest with lyrics that'd be condescending sung by a band that didn't care the way they do.

    Something Great - I was initially unimpressed. As it lyrically moped about with Harry drawling "is it too much to ask for something great?" I kept wondering "What's missing here?" There was a spark, a charm, a power that is just not on the majority of the track. That is, until he suddenly shows up for the song's twist ending: Louis. Louis is absent for the entire song until the final two lines and, I'm just gonna say it, he is framed as the person Harry is singing to. For all the rumors out there about Harry and Louis, the band themselves might've given it the most fuel for the fire yet.

    Little White Lies - the problem with a group of men writing about sex is sometimes things can get lost in translation. I can tell by the yearning vocal performances and the epic slamming dubstep death drop that this is supposed to come across as an "I want you so bad" bonanza. Instead it's kinda creepy. "You wanna set some rules/Cool, we'll watch them break tonight". YIKES. Lyrically, the song doesn't work. Everything does in spades though.

    Better Than Words - The highlight is the lyrics. Liam came up with the idea to create a song from other song titles. It's about indescribably good sex, so good they need to use other people's words to get to the point. Creative! Sounds like a bubbly Max Martin-esque production. An odd choice for album closer.

    Overall a solid album 8/10.    … Expand
  23. JUANCHO0202
    Nov 7, 2015
    10
    I didn't like it, i think it is very incomplete, i needed something else in this album. Music very nasty, and boring, I hope that 1D get better as long as the time pass by.
  24. Mol
    Sep 23, 2015
    10
    personally , i think that this album is their best , story of my life , diana , happily , and don't forget where you belong are the best songs in this abum really love it it's a mature sound
  25. leticiaflorez
    Oct 26, 2015
    10
    melhooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooores idoloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooos do mundoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  26. BeatrizLima
    Nov 13, 2015
    10
    is a really good album, with more maturity from one direction, a set of melodies on vocals, it's amazing the new tactic was in their lives, it's beautiful
  27. Potterhead
    Nov 15, 2015
    10
    I know most One Direction fans hate this album because it deviated so much from their traditional pop sound but this album was really a turning point for One Direction. Still, I loved it. The band really matured in their style and they didn't have that prim and polished look that most people knew them for on Take Me Home and Up All Night. Plus, this album had a nice rock edge to it.
  28. kay863
    May 30, 2016
    10
    I don't understand why this had such a low score, when this is easily their best album. The ones after this are just repetitive, and boring (especially Made In The A.M.). The boys really showed growth with this album, it was easily their best era. Songs like "Strong", "Happily", "Story Of My Life", "Right Now" and "You & I" shine on this album.
  29. FabrizioSW
    Jul 25, 2017
    10
    a mi me re encantó la verdad, sobre todo Happily, Strong, y Diana, creo que es similar a Up all night, pero me encantó, En ese tiempo la voz de Harry ha desarrollado tanto como la de los demás chicos, se merecen un 10.
  30. mandstyles
    Dec 7, 2019
    10
    Um dos melhores albuns da one direction, nos trouxe uma sonoridade bem diferente das que nós estávamos acostumados.
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Most Discussed Album of 2013
85
#85 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 15
  3. Negative: 2 out of 15
  1. Sputnikmusic
    Apr 22, 2014
    40
    Midnight Memories takes the slight progression of Take Me Home and demolishes it.
    Read full review
  2. Rolling Stone
    Dec 2, 2013
    50
    They joyfully plunder rock riffs and hip-hop beats, but a logjam of lousy ballads suggests Bryan Adams embodies their ideal of maturity.
    Read full review
  3. NOW Magazine
    Dec 2, 2013
    20
    If maturing means 14 (regular edition) tracks of footy-stadium-worthy anthemic choruses ad nauseam, I don’t want 1-D to grow up.
    Read full review
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